S.F. Police Code Article 49 § 4917
CITY UNDERTAKING LIMITED TO PROMOTION OF GENERAL WELFARE (San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance)
Operative Text
In enacting and implementing this Article, the City is assuming an undertaking only to promote the general welfare. The City is not assuming, nor is it imposing on its officers and employees, an obligation for breach of which it is liable in money damages to any person who claims that such breach proximately caused injury. This Article does not create a legally enforceable right against the City. Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken. For further information regarding the official version of any of this Code of Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588. Hosted by: American Legal Publishing
San Francisco Police Code Article 49 § 4917 establishes that the City's role in enacting and administering Article 49 is limited to promoting the general welfare. The provision explicitly states that the City does not take on any legal obligation that would expose it or its employees to monetary liability if someone claims harm from a failure to carry out the article's requirements. In short, § 4917 means that Article 49 does not create an enforceable legal right that can be used to sue the City for damages.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.F. Police Code Article 49 § 4917, the City's involvement in administering the rent-regulation framework does not extend to guaranteeing enforcement outcomes or accepting financial liability for how the article is applied. Operators who rely on City guidance or enforcement actions should understand that § 4917 limits the City's accountability in ways that may affect how disputes are ultimately resolved. Compliant property managers generally look to the substantive provisions of Article 49 itself—rather than any assumed City guarantee—when structuring their practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
S.F. Police Code Article 49 § 4917 makes clear that the City does not accept legal liability for how it carries out Article 49, meaning a tenant cannot sue the City for money damages based on a claimed failure to enforce the article. This does not eliminate the substantive protections found elsewhere in Article 49; it simply limits the City as a potential defendant. Tenants who believe their rights under Article 49 have been violated may explore options such as raising a violation as a defense in an eviction proceeding, filing a complaint with the San Francisco Rent Board, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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